John Elway gets three-year extension, named Broncos GM

By Will Brinson | NFL Writer

February 12, 2014 12:34 PM ET

John Elway got a three-year extension from Denver. (USATSI)

John Elway, Denver's Executive VP of Football Operations, has been the Broncos de facto general manager for a couple years now, but now the title is officially his, along with a three-year extension that will keep him with the Broncos through 2017, the team announced on Thursday.

Under Elway the Broncos have won three-straight AFC West titles, amassed a 34-14 record in those years and came within a game of winning the Super Bowl in 2013.

“Our organization is extremely pleased with the work John Elway has done in his three years since rejoining the Broncos,” team president Joe Ellis said. “He has demonstrated great vision and leadership in his role, assembling a championship-caliber team and positioning it for sustained success.

“We are very confident in the direction of the Broncos with John Elway leading our football operations."

In Elway's first year, the Broncos snuck out the AFC West with Tim Tebow as quarterback and stunned the Steelers in the playoffs. His most impressive work as a personnel man in Denver was getting out from under Tebow by luring Peyton Manning to Denver (and even stealing draft picks from the Jets in the process).

Elway did incredible work in free agency before 2013, landing a slew of stupendous values like Wes Welker, Louis Vasquez, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Terrance Knighton.

Denver got blasted by the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, but everyone forgets they were missing their franchise left tackle in Ryan Clady and two of their best defensive players in Von Miller and Chris Harris.

This is a very good team as long as Manning's on the roster and healthy and there's no reason to think Denver won't compete for a Super Bowl in 2014 as well.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that I've been given with the Broncos,” Elway said. “Our goal is to continue building on the culture of winning established by (Owner and CEO) Pat Bowlen, and we remain relentlessly committed to delivering a World Championship to our fans."